Mother 'intentionally' left her toddler in hot car, police say. Now she's charged with murder.



Police in Frisco, Texas, said they responded on Aug. 16 to a hospital and learned that earlier that day a 27-year-old mother arrived at her place of employment around 2 p.m.

Detectives believe the mother at that time "intentionally left her 15-month-old child for over two hours in a vehicle she knew did not have working air conditioning with an outside temperature of at least 95 degrees," police said.

Police said Esquivel's bond was set at $250,000.

Based on information gathered during the investigation, police said Frisco detectives believe probable cause existed that Vanessa Esquivel committed murder since "intentionally leaving the child in the car caused injury/endangered the child, which is a felony."

Police added that the suspect's actions resulted in the child's death and met the statutory requirements of murder.

Police said detectives obtained a warrant for her arrest, and Dallas police on Aug. 20 took Esquivel into custody and transferred her that same day to Frisco officers' custody.

RELATED: 3-year-old boy dies after woman working for Alabama state agency left him in car that may have reached 140 degrees: Attorney

Police said Esquivel later was transferred to the Collin County Jail; its records on Tuesday indicate Esquivel was charged with murder.

Police said Esquivel's bond was set at $250,000, adding that the offense in this case is a first-degree felony that carries a punishment of five years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

RELATED: Dad visits 'the Adult Shoppe' while his kids sit in 125-degree car for almost an hour, cops say

Vanessa Esquivel. Image source: Frisco (Texas) Police

Esquivel's attorney listed in jail records — Katheryn H. Haywood — on Tuesday told Blaze News that she was appointed Saturday but that Esquivel's family hired another attorney. Blaze News on Tuesday afternoon left a message with the office of the new attorney, Kenneth Onyenah of Dallas. The office confirmed to Blaze News that Onyenah is indeed Esquivel's new attorney but added that he wasn't available for comment at the time about the case.

Police said those with information about the case are asked to contact the Frisco Police Department's non-emergency number — 972-292-6010 — or submit a tip using Tip411 (text FRISCOPD and the tip to 847411).

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From Mayberry to mayhem: The new face of Texas suburbs



A few days ago, a high school sophomore in Frisco, Texas, was stabbed while walking his dog. Thankfully the wound wasn’t fatal, and doctors expect him to recover quickly. Unfortunately, the assailant ran away and remains at large.

On its own, this incident might seem like a minor local crime. But the context makes it impossible to dismiss. If the story sounds familiar, that’s because another Frisco high schooler, Austin Metcalf, was stabbed to death just months ago by fellow student Karmelo Anthony, an attack that ignited a national scandal.

The Austin Metcalf stabbing should have been a wake-up call. The latest stabbing is another warning.

Now it’s happened again. And once again, the details being withheld tell us almost as much as the details that make print. Local news outlets have carefully avoided naming or describing the attacker.

In today’s media environment, that omission most likely means the suspect is a young black man. This fits the larger pattern: When a violent criminal is white, his race leads every headline. When he belongs to a “protected” group, reporters bury the fact or omit it entirely.

Double standards breed division

Progressives claim this kind of censorship promotes civic harmony. In reality, it deepens mistrust and resentment. Citizens notice the double standard. They conclude that certain groups face no real accountability, while others are scrutinized and vilified. What grows out of that perception isn’t harmony — it’s more division, more resentment, and more dysfunction.

When ordinary people can’t get the facts, they’re left chasing phantoms — scanning middle schools for “radicalized” white kids because that’s what the media tells them to fear. Meanwhile, the far more common culprits keep wreaking havoc with little pushback.

Suburban illusions collapse

Suburbs like Frisco are uniquely vulnerable. For most of its history, Frisco was insulated from big-city crime. That isolation allowed residents to cultivate what writer Rob Henderson calls “luxury beliefs” — progressive slogans and ideals that sound noble when crime feels remote, but collapse the moment violence arrives on your own street.

Confronted with the reality of a young black male’s role in a stabbing at the park or a brawl in the school hallway, many residents simply prefer to deny or ignore the facts of the matter. They downplay what happened or cover it up so they can keep pretending their suburb remains as safe as it always was.

The problem is that denial doesn’t work. It seeps into institutions. Instead of suspending, expelling, or even jailing dangerous offenders, school districts now embrace “restorative justice.” That means therapy sessions, dialogue circles, and endless second chances. Predictably, violent students stay in class, disrupt learning, and in the worst cases attack their peers.

This weak approach produces young men who never face consequences. They grow up with low expectations, no skills, no self-control, and plenty of resentment. Eventually they end up roaming the streets, harassing strangers, and preying on the weak. Ordinary families, once told that all this would promote “civic harmony,” now cross the street or lock their doors when they see these young men coming.

Frisco isn’t Mayberry anymore

What’s happening in Frisco is happening across Texas. Suburbs once imagined as quiet havens have become crowded, diverse cities in their own right. Migration from blue states, foreign immigration, subsidized housing, and zoning changes have accelerated the transformation.

RELATED:The stabbing in Frisco was a tragedy everyone saw coming

Photo by schirmat via Getty Images

That doesn’t have to be a bad thing — but only if leaders face the new reality. Too many still cling to the illusion that Frisco is a charming, homogeneous refuge for upper-middle-class families. That era is gone. Frisco today has heavy traffic, a diverse population, and rising crime. Pretending otherwise is not an option.

The price of denial

If Frisco wants to survive and thrive, it needs leaders willing to tell the truth. That means dropping the “luxury beliefs” and embracing real accountability. It means removing violent kids from classrooms, enforcing laws against vagrancy and harassment, and raising the bar for behavior in public spaces.

Yes, some kids will end up in the so-called school-to-prison pipeline. Yes, some groups will show up in crime statistics more than others. But equal enforcement of the law is the only fair system. Lowering standards to avoid “disproportionality” is not compassion — it’s sabotage.

If the city refuses to act, it will suffer the same fate as America’s hollowed-out urban cores: neighbors who no longer trust one another, ethnic groups retreating into separate enclaves, and public spaces dominated by thugs who drive law-abiding families away. Once that spiral begins, families who can afford to leave will move — to Arkansas, Oklahoma, or anywhere else they can find safety and space.

Frisco still has time. It remains prosperous, attractive, and full of promise. But that won’t last if residents continue looking the other way. The Austin Metcalf stabbing should have been a wake-up call. The latest stabbing is another warning.

The longer this community clings to denial, the worse the problem will grow — and the harder it will be to fix.

She was about to celebrate her 21st birthday — then police found her dead in superyacht's engine room



Just days before her 21st birthday, a "radiant" South African woman working aboard a luxury superyacht was found dead inside the vessel's engine room, according to police in the Bahamas.

Paige Bell — a 20-year-old from Johannesburg — worked on the nearly 150-foot "Far From It" superyacht, which charters for approximately $140,000 per week, according to the New York Post.

'We will leave no stone unturned until the guilty is brought to justice.'

The luxury vessel was moored off Harbour Island in the Bahamas in early July.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement, "Police on the Island of Eleuthera are investigating a homicide and a suspected suicide attempt that occurred July 3 on a vessel docked in Harbour Island that left a female of South African nationality dead."

Police said they were alerted to the incident just after 1 p.m. and dispatched officers to the yacht.

"Once on board the vessel, officers discovered a female unresponsive with visible signs of injuries and a male suffering from severe injuries to his arms," police stated.

Bell was discovered in the ship's engine room and pronounced dead there.

Our News Bahamas reported that Bell was fatally stabbed.

RELATED: 'I'm the guy you want to kill ... challenge accepted': Florida sheriff confronts man accused of threatening to murder him

Also in the engine room, police encountered a 39-year-old male suspect of Mexican nationality.

Police later identified the suspect as Brigido Muñoz, who also worked on the superyacht as an engineer, the Daily Mail reported.

Muñoz was arrested and transported to a medical clinic, where he was treated for his wounds, which are suspected to be from a suicide attempt.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force stated that Muñoz was charged with murder on July 9.

"The court heard that his alleged victim was found with slash wounds to her neck and partially undressed, suggesting she may have been sexually assaulted," the Daily Mail reported. "She also had defensive injuries to her arms, the court heard, suggesting she tried to fend off her alleged attacker."

Muñoz was denied bail and is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 20, according to Our News Bahamas.

RELATED: Man with death wish gives chilling jailhouse confession of murdering and crucifying pastor, planned to kill over a dozen more

Photo by Katrin Waples via iStock / Getty Images Plus

The family of Paige Bell is heartbroken over her suspected murder.

"It is with broken hearts that we share the devastating news that our beautiful Paigey’s life was brutally taken from us last night,” the family wrote on social media on July 4, according to People magazine. "As a family, we are doing our best to process this unimaginable loss. ... We will leave no stone unturned until the guilty is brought to justice."

"This evening, Mom and Dad ... are flying to the Bahamas to begin the painful process of not only bringing their baby girl home, but also seeking justice for the monster that took her life," her sister Chelsey wrote on Facebook, according to Fox News.

Bell's colleagues and friends launched a GoFundMe campaign for her family; just over $56,000 has been raised as of Monday afternoon.

"Paige was more than a teammate, she was family," the GoFundMe listing said. "Her radiant spirit, infectious laughter, and boundless compassion made an unforgettable impact on everyone lucky enough to know her. Whether it was long days at sea or quiet moments under the stars, she brought light and warmth wherever she went."

The crowdfunding campaign noted that Bell was going to celebrate her 21st birthday just days before she was found dead.

In Bell's honor, Paige's mother has asked supporters to eat red velvet cake — her daughter's favorite — on her birthday, which is July 14.

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Cheap hot dog sparks deadly dispute at nudist resort that ends in grisly deaths of elderly couple and dog: Police



The deaths of an elderly couple and their dog last year occurred after an argument over a cheap hot dog at a nudist resort in California, according to recent police testimony.

Michael Sparks, 62, was arrested on Aug. 29, 2024. The San Bernardino County District Attorney stated that Sparks was hit with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of 79-year-old Daniel Menard and his 73-year-old wife, Stephanie Menard.

'Chopped up my neighbors. Didn’t know I had it in me. SNAPPED.'

Sparks had been neighbors with the elderly couple at the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in Colton.

According to Patch, the couple disappeared from their home on Aug. 24, 2024.

Redlands Police Detective Thomas Williams last week testified at a preliminary hearing at the San Bernardino Justice Center that following his arrest, Sparks told a fellow inmate what happened.

"[The inmate] said Mr. Sparks told him the incident started over a hot dog that Daniel Menard had purchased for him,” Williams stated, according to the Press-Enterprise. "He said Mr. Sparks felt that the hot dog was a jab at him, making him feel like he was worth only a dollar hot dog, and that’s what set him off that day."

Williams added that the inmate said Sparks "went outside and struck Mr. Menard in the head until his head caved in. Mrs. Menard came out yelling, ‘No! No!’ and then he began striking Mrs. Menard and Mr. Menard with a rake, a hoe, and a hammer."

According to Williams, Sparks brought the bodies of the elderly couple into a concrete bunker he had built underneath his trailer.

RELATED: 'Monster' learns his fate for killing 2-year-old girl; officials say he 'completely severed' toddler's spine

Citing an alleged conversation between Sparks and another inmate, the Press-Enterprise reported that Sparks admitted he had "dismembered" Stephanie Menard and "mutilated" Daniel Menard.

Detective Williams said police found dismembered body parts of the elderly couple in several black plastic bags and an orange Home Depot bucket just days after they went missing.

In addition, Fox News reported that Sparks told an inmate he had drowned the couple's Shih Tzu dog Cuddles in a sink. Sparks allegedly left the dog's body outside for coyotes to eat.

Witness Gale Heidelberg testified in court that she worked with Sparks when he had a job as a truck driver.

Heidelberg told San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Sean Han during the hearing that she had a text message exchange after seeing Sparks' neighborhood on a local news broadcast regarding the missing couple.

Heidelberg allegedly texted Sparks, "I am watching news. Something going on where you live. Are you in town?”

Sparks reportedly replied, "It's me. Committing suicide today. Take care. Bye."

Heidelberg purportedly responded frantically, “Wait. What’s going on? Where are you?”

Sparks allegedly texted back, "Chopped up my neighbors. Didn’t know I had it in me. SNAPPED."

RELATED: 'King of the Hill' voice actor allegedly shot dead by neighbor; tributes pour in: 'A terrible tragedy'

Witness Wayne Marinelli — who had to compose himself during his court appearance — testified that he searched for the elderly couple but instead saw Sparks washing out a 55-gallon drum that seemed to have blood inside it, according to the Press-Enterprise.

Resident John Hillis reportedly testified that he was "best friends" with the Menards. Hillis said Stephanie Menard had muscular dystrophy and needed a cane to walk while Daniel Menard had been suffering from dementia.

Hillis noted in court that he became worried on Aug. 25, 2024, when Stephanie did not make her typical call to him to pick them up to bring them to church.

Hillis looked for the couple and said their Chrysler Sebring was in a driveway with the keys in the ignition. Hillis went inside the Menard's home to locate them since the elderly couple allegedly provided him with a key to their house.

Hillis told the courtroom that he noticed Stephanie’s purse and Daniel's wallet were inside the home. However, Hillis was most alarmed that Stephanie's cane also was inside the home, the Press-Enterprise reported.

"She doesn’t cross the threshold of the door without the cane,” Hillis said in court.

The Press-Enterprise noted that what "ultimately" set off Sparks was his "humiliation over a hot dog."

Sparks eventually was charged with animal cruelty for the alleged drowning of the dog.

Sparks has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

District Attorney Jason Anderson did not reveal if he will seek the death penalty against Sparks, according to the Press-Enterprise.

Sparks is currently being held without bail.

Sparks reportedly is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

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Mom says white man kidnapped her 3-year-old daughter — then admits the gruesome truth



A 31-year-old Maryland mother called police in Delaware last week saying her 3-year-old daughter was the victim of an armed kidnapping.

Darrian Randle of North East initially told police she was driving along the 500 block of Gender Road in Newark around 7 p.m. June 10 when her daughter — Nola Dinkins — became upset, so she pulled over and tried to comfort her, WCAU-TV reported. North East is about a half-hour southwest of Newark.

'We just can't fathom how a human being can do this to another human being.'

Randle claimed a white man approached and held her at gunpoint before kidnapping her daughter, the station said.

Randle described the man as about 40 years old, bald with peach fuzz on his head, and wearing a black hoodie and gray basketball shorts, WCAU reported, citing investigators. Randle also claimed the man was in a vehicle driven by a blonde, white woman, officials told the station.

More from WCAU:

When the Amber Alert was issued Tuesday night, officials released a description of the man as well as a vehicle they believed he was driving, a dark-colored SUV, likely a Ford or Chevy, with rust or dirt on the exterior.

Wednesday morning, however, Andrea Botterbusch of the New Castle County Police Department, said that the Amber Alert was canceled after investigators determined that Randle's initial statement to police was a lie.

"Detectives determined that the initial account of the incident given by the mother was false," Botterbusch said, according to the station.

RELATED: Teen girl says father threatened her with 'honor killing' before allegedly trying to strangle her outside Washington state HS

New Castle, Delaware, police asked Maryland State Police to check out Randle's last known address — part of a standard procedure in missing-children investigations — to make sure the girl wasn't mistakenly left there and to corroborate Randle's claims, WBAL-TV reported.

Maryland State Police said troopers went to the house of Randle's boyfriend, 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten, on Elk Nest Drive in North East, WBAL reported.

Britten told police the child was not home and had left with her mother, Randle, WBAL said.

Troopers asked to view video from several cameras outside the house, WBAL said, adding that charging documents say video shows only Randle leaving the house — and that the child was "never observed on camera."

Britten also let troopers search his house, WBAL said, adding that charging documents state that while they didn't find the girl, they did notice an odor of cleaning products — specifically bleach.

Britten also let authorities search his vehicle, WBAL said, adding that police said troopers found a child's blanket with a reddish-brown smear consistent with blood. Britten said the blanket didn't belong to him and that a stranger in a park gave it to him last summer, WBAL added.

Delaware authorities interviewed Randle, who initially made a number of false and misleading statements before admitting after some time that her kidnapping claim wasn't true, WBAL said, citing charging documents.

Authorities said Randle then told them she struck her child at Britten's house in North East, WBAL reported.

"Randle confessed to physically striking [the child] with a belt approximately 15-20 times about her body during the daytime hours on Monday [June 9]," the charging documents state, according to WBAL.

The child fell to the ground, and she wasn't moving and was unresponsive, WBAL said, citing the charging documents, adding that Randle told authorities she picked up the child, realized her daughter was no longer breathing, and called for Britten.

More from WBAL:

Randle said she and Britten tried CPR but realized the child was dead. At that point, the charging documents state, Randle and Britten put the child in Britten's vehicle and drove around for a while before returning home and putting the child inside a suitcase.

The charging documents state that Randle put the suitcase in the basement overnight before asking Britten to take it somewhere.

Charging documents state investigators went to an area on Dune Drive in North East, where a suitcase containing remains was found, WBAL said, adding that Britten's house backs up to the vacant lot where he's accused of dumping the girl's body.

WCAU in a separate story, citing court documents, said the remains were consistent with an emaciated child and completely wrapped in plastic wrap.

Maryland State Police said identification of the remains is pending the medical examiner's autopsy results, WCAU noted, adding that the medical examiner also will determine the cause and manner of death.

Maryland State Police on June 11 said Randle was taken into custody on charges of first- and second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in death of a minor under 13, and other charges, WBAL reported.

RELATED: Florida woman allegedly told her 10-year-old through Roblox to drop baby on its head and try to burn foster parents to death

Randle remained in Delaware police custody and was awaiting extradition to Maryland on a $1 million bond, WBAL said, adding that Britten was in Maryland and was charged as an accessory to first- and second-degree murder and other charges.

Prosecutors wanted Britten held without bond, WBAL said, but the judge released him on a $75,000 bond and home detention.

An employee of business located near the scene of the crime told Blaze News on Wednesday that "we were all shocked and saddened" by the murder — and "even more sad" after learning the girl's body was left within "walking distance" of the business. But the employee added to Blaze News that "some of us" attended Monday night's vigil for Nola, and that it was "very nice" to see so many people there.

RELATED: Parents' damning texts about their children lead officials to grisly fire pit discovery: Court docs

Chad Marshall, a resident of the Elk Nest neighborhood in North East, told WBAL that "we just can't fathom how a human being can do this to another human being."

RELATED: Man accused of murdering daughter allegedly trying to marry state's witness, perhaps to keep her from testifying against him

An unnamed neighbor added to WBAL, "Having a mother that's supposed to love their child and make sure they're doing right by them, hearing she was abused and eventually killed, that's a horrible thing. Hearing that this happened so close to where we live, it's very unfortunate for the little girl, and it just makes us watch our kids even more."

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Female with 'anger issues' fires gun amid argument, but bullet pierces wall of uninvolved neighbor — and tragedy strikes



Things were as uneventful as you can imagine for 45-year-old Billy Sorrels late Friday night.

He was sitting in bed in his Oklahoma City residence while a 12-year-old boy sat near him playing video games, police told KOTV-DT.

'The bullet has to go somewhere.'

But at that time, Sorrels' next-door neighbor — 30-year-old Elisha Kirby — fired a round from her gun while she was in the doorway of her home, police told KWTV-DT.

Kirby — who later told cops she had "anger issues" — was arguing with a woman when she fired the round, police told KOTV.

Police said the bullet went through a wall and hit Sorrels, KOTV added.

The child in the bedroom reported that he heard "an explosion," turned around, and saw Sorrels bleeding from his face, the Oklahoman reported.

RELATED: Insane video: Unhinged male beats on bus driver, pulls him from seat while bus is motoring down street — then comes the crash

Image source: Oklahoma City Police Department

“Bullet apparently just narrowly missed the kid,” Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City police told KOTV.

Police were called to Sorrels' residence near Southeast 44th Street and Sunnylane Road to investigate a shooting, KOTV noted, adding that officers found Sorrels collapsed dead on his front porch.

Investigators found a rifle near Sorrels' bed and figured the victim shot himself, KOTV reported.

But Sorrels' family found a bullet hole in the wall and called police to come back, KOTV noted, adding that Knight explained that "investigators were able to piece together where the shot came from."

Kirby in an interview with authorities confessed to shooting the gun that killed the victim, the Oklahoman said, citing the affidavit.

RELATED: Thug allegedly robs woman at gunpoint for pair of shoes. The whole thing ends rather painfully for him.

Oklahoma City. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images

What's more, the affidavit states that Kirby admitted to having "anger issues, and she let the anger get the best of her," the paper said, adding that Kirby said she "thought she had fired her gun in an upward direction and did not mean to shoot in the direction of the victim's apartment."

Knight told KOTV, “The bullet has to go somewhere. It went right through a wall, struck the man, ultimately killing him.”

Kirby was arrested early Sunday on a charge of second-degree murder and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, jail records state.

An official with the Oklahoma County Criminal Court on Wednesday told Blaze News that Kirby likely will be arraigned in a video hearing by Friday.

KOTV, citing police records, reported that it wasn't the first time Kirby has been jailed over firing a gun. The station said in February she was arrested in connection with a shooting in which she injured herself.

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'Eye for an eye': Support soars for father charged with murdering deputy just 1 day after different cop shot his son dead



As the murder case proceeds against Rodney Hinton Jr., the Ohio father accused of murdering a recently retired sheriff's deputy on May 2 — just one day after Hinton Jr.'s son was fatally shot by police — a disturbing undercurrent is gaining momentum.

Not unlike the support that's poured in for teenager Karmelo Anthony — charged with murdering 17-year-old Austin Metcalf in Frisco, Texas, last month — some supporters of Hinton Jr. are calling him a "hero" and a "saint" and even "Father of The Year."

'He is holding his head high in the courtroom while surrounded by cops because he feels good about what he did. He defended his son in the only way he knew how.'

Authorities said Hinton Jr. was at the Cincinnati police station May 2 to view police bodycam video showing the fatal police shooting of his son, Ryan Hinton, which took place the day before. A detective testified that Hinton Jr. was emotional after viewing the video and later on May 2 drove his car into retired Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson, who was helping direct traffic near a University of Cincinnati graduation.

Henderson died as a result of his injuries, and authorities charged Hinton Jr. with murder, contending his alleged act was in retaliation for the police-involved shooting death of his son. Hinton Jr., who remains in jail, has pleaded not guilty — and his attorney said it will be by reason of insanity. Hinton Jr.'s trial will proceed later this year or in early 2026, and the prosecution will seek the death penalty.

Yet, despite what Hinton Jr. is accused of, he has gained quite a few fans.

In an X post that's been viewed four million times, the user wrote, "Eye for an eye" above a video showing Hinton Jr. walking out of a courtroom with his head tilted back and his chin jutting forward. "A father’s revenge. Keep ya head up!"

RELATED: Blaze News original: 'Austin Metcalf got exactly what he deserved — point blank, period': Karmelo Anthony defenders go viral

Another X post — which uses a similar video showing supporters of Hinton Jr. waving to him in court and the defendant reacting with a look of defiant satisfaction — declares that, "No matter what happens to Rodney Hinton Jr. he immortalized forever!!" The post has been viewed more than 350,000 times.

Other notable reactions:

  • "Rodney Hinton Jr. did his duty," another X user said.
  • "Rodney Hinton is a hero," another X user said. "This is exactly the energy we should have for these state sanctioned killers when they come after one of our own."
  • "All I’m saying is this. If a cop killed my son ... I’m airing out the precinct," another X user said. "Rodney Hinton Jr. is a saint and a hero."
  • "Rodney Hinton’s actions ... make complete sense as the reaction of a parent witnessing state violence dolled [sic] out by actors who will never be held responsible," another X user said. "I’d go so far as to say he’s totally justified."

But all of the aforementioned cheering for Hinton Jr. are relative blips on the radar compared to the opinions below supporting him. Check them out for yourself:

Longtime cultural critic and writer Touré says Hinton Jr. 'got an eye for an eye' — and 'as a Black father, I respect him'


Longtime cultural critic and writer Touré penned the following on Instagram about Hinton Jr.: "So many times Black folks have lost our children to cops and imagined some way of getting back at police. I’ve envisioned cathartic violence in my mind’s eye as a response to a police killing, but I could never do it. But Hinton did. He got an eye for an eye. He is holding his head high in the courtroom while surrounded by cops because he feels good about what he did. He defended his son in the only way he knew how. I’m not saying whether he was right or wrong; I’m saying he did what millions of us have thought of doing after another police murder of a Black teenager. I could never do what he did, but as a Black father, I respect him."

Touré also posted a separate video in which he dramatically declares that Hinton Jr. "is a lot like" Luigi Mangione:

They both committed political assassinations. They both un-alived specific people as a way of protesting a system. They both committed violent homicides yet received wild outpourings of respect. They both made powerful statements about America by protesting a system that they feel was oppressing them. They both felt destroyed and despondent after an American system betrayed them. They both lost the will to live and discover the power that you have and the things that you can do when you no longer care about your own life. They both inspire people to say, "I hear his message. I respect his feelings. I respect his pain." These are both revenge on the system ... where they have selected a specific individual to stand in for the entirety of the system. And you would expect the average person to say, "Wow! Violence is wrong!" But in both these situations people are saying, "I understand why he was violent." Don't hyper-focus on people who have committed violent crimes here; focus on the systems that have pushed them to feel like, "We are so oppressed by you that we need to do something violent to get your attention."

TikTok user posts jarring short video about the killing of deputy Henderson: 'RIP to that officer. But to everyone saying that he's innocent? He fit the description.'


A TikTok user posted a short, stop-you-in-your-tracks video that's garnered nearly 240,000 views in which he opines about the violent death of deputy Henderson: "And I'mma say this in the most respectful — but I'mma be honest — way that I can. RIP to that officer. But to everyone saying that he's innocent? He fit the description."

The TikTok user offered a written caption for his video, saying that "I mean this with all respect: rest in peace to that officer, prayers to his family, but I’m giving them every line they give us." Presumably, the video creator means that police say the same thing about black people they arrest — that they "fit the description."

The clip attracted more than 1,300 comments — and while some questioned the TikTok user's take, others couldn't have agreed more with him. "Guilty by association. That's what they say about us," one commenter wrote back. Another responded by saying, "I honestly think this is genius. If cops get treated how they treat people, there is gonna be a lot of change!!!"

'Black folks are getting on alert, like, ''Hey man ... I got to defend myself by all means ... defend my family by all means [and] crash out for my family by all means,"' activist warns


Readers of Blaze News might recognize activist Tariq Nasheed, as he authored several viral X posts last month supporting murder suspect Karmelo Anthony. In one of them, Nasheed said, "If Kyle Rittenhouse was justified in using lethal self-defense... And Daniel Penny was justified in using lethal self-defense.... Then Karmelo Anthony was justified in using self-defense against alleged bullies who instigated an altercation, correct?"

More recently, Nasheed weighed in on the Hinton Jr. controversy for the 256,000 subscribers to his Tariq Radio program on YouTube. He explained during a recent episode — "Did This Father Take Justice in His Own Hands?" — what he believes is the reason behind Hinton Jr.'s alleged actions:

People are tired of racial injustice, and people are just ... crashing out, like, "We're just going to fight back," which is inevitable. There's only so far you can push people. There's only so far you can just ... keep creating a system of non-justice. That's why we keep seeing these cases where black folks are fighting back — Karmelo Anthony — just so many other cases. Black folks are fighting back, and these white supremacists are getting more degenerate, just like the white woman who was ... cursing out that special-needs black kid and all of these other white supremacists supporting her. So black folks are getting on alert, like, "Hey, man ... I got to defend myself by all means and defend my family by all means, or I have to crash out for my family by all means." So that's ... the paradigm shift that white supremacy has pushed people into, unfortunately. So what the ... white supremacists are trying to do with this case in Cincinnati, where this brother immediately got his lick back after his son got offed by a suspected race soldier. [Police] don't want that to become contagious, so they got to start getting into psychological warfare through optics. That's why [police were] surrounding this guy [in court] and being intimidating. That's for black people nationwide watching to say, ... "Hey, don't try to play with us. We're going to come down on you hard." But ... people ain't really afraid of that, you know? So the thing is, it's a symbolic message of collective punishment, them doing all of that surrounding the suspect and being intimidating. That reinforces that if one black person retaliates, the full weight of white-dominant law enforcement institutions will respond collectively and aggressively — not on the individual, not just on him, but ... on the whole group.

'What Rodney Hinton did? That's gonna make the next cop think,' angry TikTok user says in viral video


An angry TikTok user noted in a viral video with over 440,000 views that "what Rodney Hinton did? That's gonna make the next cop think." He also appears to argue that rules imposed upon police officers aren't going to stop them from killing black people — but violence against police in the "streets" may get the attention of law enforcement.

The user's video attracted more than 4,400 comments — and the majority of them agree with the video creator's sentiments. One commenter wrote, "It ends right now. No more turning the cheek." Another wrote that "what [Hinton Jr.] did was right, so now [police] all should fear and hold their partners accountable."

Viral video creator backs Hinton Jr. — and tells law enforcement: 'You took his son. He took one of yours.'


A TikTok user created a video that's gone viral (360,000 views) in which he backs Hinton Jr. and tells law enforcement, "You took his son. He took one of yours."

The video creator adds that there is such a thing as a "justifiable crash out. This is one of those things. And an unfortunate reality is, in a case like this, look, they're not gonna tell you the name of the person who actually did it, right? You're not gonna be able to get your hands on that person. So you know what's gonna happen now? In order for you to even live with yourself, you gotta get somebody."

His video attracted over 2,500 comments: One replied, "Let them quake in their boots, wondering who’s next like we have to do." Another answered, "Revenge is one of my favorite things. I stand with Rodney Hinton."

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Homeowner charged with murder after HS senior fatally shot amid what surviving teens say was 'ding-dong ditch' prank



A Virginia homeowner has been charged with murder after a high school senior was fatally shot amid what surviving teenagers said was a "ding-dong ditch" doorbell prank in the middle of the night over the weekend.

Tyler Chase Butler, 27, of Spotsylvania County was arrested Tuesday for second-degree murder, malicious wounding, and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office said, adding that Butler was being held at Rappahannock Regional Jail on no bond.

'It has been very emotional, honestly. We graduate next week.'

The sheriff's office said it received a call around 3 a.m. Saturday for a residential burglary in progress, during which a resident had fired shots. Officials said deputies responded to the area of McKenzie Lane and discovered that two people were wounded by gunfire and a third person was unharmed.

One of the wounded — 18-year-old Michael Bosworth Jr. — was taken to a hospital, where he died, officials said. The second wounded individual — a juvenile — was treated and released, officials said. The third involved person — another juvenile — will remain unnamed, the sheriff's office said.

Turns out, Bosworth Jr. was a senior at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, where he played lacrosse, football, and also wrestled, his stepfather told WRC-TV.

Not only was Bosworth shot just hours before his school's prom, WRC said, but also adding to the tragedy is that one of the juveniles shot at over the weekend told detectives they were playing a "ding-dong ditch" prank during which they ring doorbells and run away, hoping someone answers the door with nobody there, WJLA-TV reported.

WJLA said it obtained search warrants for the cell phones of the two surviving juveniles, and the aforementioned juvenile said the three of them had performed the "ding-dong ditch" prank at a few homes, took at least one video of them carrying it out, and were planning to post their videos on TikTok as part of a social media trend.

The juvenile in question told detectives that they ran away and tried to hide after doing a "ding-dong ditch" at the home where Butler lives — and then the shooting commenced, WJLA reported.

Both surviving juveniles were read Miranda Warnings, WJLA said, but neither of them were charged, and at least one voluntarily handed over a phone to a detective.

Sheriff's Office Capt. Charles Carey told WJLA the initial 911 call indicated that three people allegedly were trying to break into Butler's home by kicking in the back door.

Khamoni Keys told WJLA he was on the freshman football team with Bosworth and is a friend of the other juvenile who was wounded: "[Bosworth] wasn't ever scared to show how he felt about things. He was a very passionate person about stuff. It's sad he had to go the way he did, but I know his family won't be by themselves. We will all be there for them as well. I went to the hospital that morning when I heard one of my closer friends got shot."

Massaponax High School Principal William Lancaster III sent a letter to families after the shooting, WJLA said, adding that it noted Bosworth's death and said counseling resources would be made available to students.

What's more, Tuesday night was the annual senior sunset at the high school — and what was normally a fun event to celebrate students' upcoming graduation was decidedly somber, WJLA said.

"It has been very emotional, honestly. We graduate next week," Keys told WJLA. "It has been very rough, like I said, but I think we will all get through it if we stay together the way we are. That's how it is right now at the senior sunset. We're all together. No one's alone. We're just taking time to all mourn together instead of taking it by ourselves."

You can view a video report here covering the incident and reactions to it.

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Man to stand trial on murder charges for high-speed crash that killed 4 Pepperdine University sorority sisters



A judge has ordered a California man to stand trial on murder and manslaughter charges in connection with a car crash that killed four Pepperdine sorority sisters two years ago.

The crash occurred on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu around 8:30 p.m. Oct. 17, 2023.

'This is a horrible, horrible case for everybody — the victims, families.'

Fraser Bohm — who reportedly was 20 years old at the time — allegedly was driving his BMW vehicle between 93 and 104 miles per hour in a 45mph zone, according to prosecutors. The car accident reportedly occurred on a section of the Pacific Coast Highway known as "Dead Man's Curve."

However, Bohm's lawyer, Michael Kraut, told Fox News that witnesses corroborated his client's assertion that he was driving "70 miles an hour, not 104" prior to the crash "and every fact that he gave was corroborated."

Kraut noted that one of the witnesses admitted to chasing Bohm in a road-rage incident, which he contends contributed to the deadly crash.

Kraut also stated, "There was somebody who had their lights shining directly into his eyes, and he had to move over, and that was shown on a video where somebody pulled into the center median."

Kraut added, "A woman who was in front of him saw those lights, and she moved over part of the lane and honked at him, and that startled him, and that moved him in. And that's when the crash happened."

Bohm said he was forced to swerve after a white car crossed into his lane and struck his driver's side mirror, which allegedly caused him to crash into parked vehicles.

According to KABC-TV, the female driver of a white Honda Civic asserted that she never made contact with the BMW before seeing it crash into the first parked vehicle.

Photos of the Honda Civic reportedly showed no apparent damage to the car.

Bohm reportedly crashed into three parked vehicles as well as four college students.

The Pepperdine University sorority sisters — Niamh Rolston, 20; Peyton Stewart, 21; Asha Weir, 21; and Deslyn Williams, 21 — were walking along the shoulder area after getting out of a vehicle when the BMW slammed into them, according to Deputy District Attorney Nathan Bartos.

All four members of the Alpha Phi sorority died.

They were seniors at Pepperdine's Seaver College of Liberal Arts and set to graduate with the university's class of 2024. The victims received their degrees posthumously.

The prosecutor proclaimed, "They were killed because of the driving of the defendant."

Last week, Superior Court Judge Diego H. Edber ordered Bohm to stand trial on murder and vehicular manslaughter charges.

Bohm was charged with four counts each of murder and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

Bohm was ordered to return to the Van Nuys courthouse for his arraignment July 1.

Kraut said, "This is a horrible, horrible case for everybody — the victims, families. It's a horrific event. And my client's family and my client feel distraught over what happened. But the issue is holding my client responsible for the level of crime, if any, that he committed, not just going to the top for murder."

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Father whose son was killed in police shooting is accused of murdering recently retired sheriff's deputy the very next day



An Ohio father whose son was killed in a Cincinnati police shooting last week is accused of murdering a recently retired sheriff's deputy the very next day.

Rodney Hinton Jr. on Tuesday appeared in court for a no-bond hearing on an aggravated murder charge in the death of retired Hamilton County sheriff's deputy Larry Henderson, WLWT-TV reported.

The detective said Hinton Jr. picked out the first officer he could find and accelerated toward him, going 'through the intersection, directly at where deputy Henderson was standing, struck deputy Henderson and the metal utility pole on the northeast corner.'

The station said the court's gallery was packed with family members and law enforcement officers during the hearing — and that emotions ran high.

The prosecution called a Cincinnati police detective who said Hinton Jr. on Friday had been at the police station to meet with the chief and view police bodycam video from the day before, WLWT reported.

The video showed officers fatally shooting Hinton Jr.'s son, Ryan Hinton, the station said, adding that the shooting occurred as police stopped a stolen car.

The detective said Hinton Jr. was emotional after viewing the bodycam video, and family didn’t want him driving, WLWT reported.

The detective said Hinton Jr. initially didn't drive — but came back later, got his car, and headed to an area near the University of Cincinnati where deputy Henderson was directing traffic for the college's graduation, the station noted.

The detective said Hinton Jr. picked out the first officer he could find and accelerated toward him, going "through the intersection, directly at where deputy Henderson was standing, struck deputy Henderson and the metal utility pole on the northeast corner," WLWT reported.

The prosecutor asked if there was evidence of skid marks, but the station said the detective replied "no" and that "there were no indications he tried to brake, stop, or otherwise avoid deputy Henderson."

The prosecution previously said Hinton Jr. "purposely caused the death of an on-duty deputy sheriff," WCPO-TV said.

Judge Tyrone Yates heard testimony as well as arguments from the state and defense in regard to bond for Hinton Jr., WLWT said, adding that the state said there are no adequate forms of release, and the suspect is a "giant mental health question mark" who presents a risk to law enforcement officers and the public.

Hinton Jr.'s attorney, Clyde Bennett, entered a not guilty plea on Hinton Jr.'s behalf and noted that his client's behavior indicates "classic mental illness" — and that not being in a right frame of mind can get one believing a wrong choice is actually right, the station said.

Hinton Jr. was denied bond at Tuesday's hearing, NBC News said.

Bennett said he will seek a competency hearing, WLWT noted, adding that a grand jury date was set for May 12.

You can view a video report here about Tuesday's hearing and the case in general.

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